Dubrovnik : Full Day Group Sail Boat Tour to Elaphiti & Blue Cave

The best part of this Dubrovnik day is the freedom to spend real time in the water. You sail among the Elaphiti Islands, stop at quiet bays, swim from the boat, and may visit the Blue Cave if the group and conditions allow. This feels less like a fixed sightseeing circuit and more like a small sailing day with room to adjust the pace.

I like the maximum group size of eight, which gives the boat a friendly, personal feel without turning the trip into a private-charter price. I also like the useful extras: a SUP, snorkeling and diving equipment, an outdoor shower, coffee or tea, and a welcome drink. The main consideration is food. Lunch is planned on Lopud, but nothing substantial is provided onboard, so bring cash and perhaps your own snacks.

Key points at a glance

• Small boat, maximum eight people: You have more space to move around and a better chance to talk with the skipper.
• Koločep comes first: Plan on swimming, snorkeling, sunbathing, and possibly visiting the Blue Cave.
• Šunj Beach has sand: This is the island stop for an easy swim, beach time, or a drink at a beach club.
• Lopud is the main lunch stop: Eat by the sea, swim near the beach, walk through the village, or visit a 14th-century monastery.
• Skippers may let you steer: Captain Dragan and skipper Zeba are described as friendly and hands-on.
• Bring food money and sun protection: Drinks are basic, lunch is not included, and the tour depends on good weather.

A small-group sailing day from Dubrovnik

This is an eight-hour outing through the Elaphiti Islands, a group of islands just offshore from Dubrovnik. You meet at Lapadska obala 4 at 9:30 a.m. and return to the same place at the end of the day.

At $170.43 per person, this is not the cheapest way to reach the islands. It is also not simply a boat transfer. Your fare covers a full day on the water, several swimming stops, use of the SUP and snorkeling equipment, basic drinks, sailing instruction, and a small group capped at eight people.

That last point matters. Larger island cruises can feel like floating bus tours, with little room to move and less say in how long you stay in the water. Here, the boat size leaves room for conversation and gives the skipper more ability to respond to the group. The plan is laid out in advance, but the day can be adjusted around swimming, lunch, weather, and the wishes of the people onboard.

The skipper may explain what the lines do and let you take the wheel. That is a nice touch if you want more than a ride with a view. Captain Dragan is named in several accounts, while skipper Zeba is also praised for being personable and attentive. Because the boat is run by a small team, the exact skipper may vary.

Koločep: your first long swim stop

After setting sail from Dubrovnik, you head toward Koločep, the first of the three main Elaphiti Islands on the route. The planned stop lasts about two hours, including sailing time and time around the island.

Koločep is the place to settle into the day. You can swim, snorkel, sunbathe, and use the boat as a base while taking in the cliffs and small bays. The setting is quieter than Dubrovnik’s city waterfront, and the hour in the water gives you a quick test of how active you want the rest of the day to be.

The supplied equipment includes masks and other basic gear for exploring in the water. There is also a SUP, which gives you another way to spend time away from your seat. An outdoor shower lets you rinse off afterward, a small feature that becomes useful when you have saltwater on your skin and several more stops ahead.

The Blue Cave is optional, not guaranteed. Its inclusion depends on the group’s wishes and the day’s conditions. Treat it as a possible extra rather than the central reason to book. If it matters greatly to you, ask about it before departure.

This is also where weather can affect the plan. The experience requires good weather, and poor conditions may lead to a different date or a full refund. Even in fair weather, the skipper can change the order or reduce a stop if the sea makes the original plan impractical.

Šunj Beach: a rare sandy pause

Next comes Šunj Beach on Lopud, planned for about an hour. This beach is known for its sand, which makes it different from many rocky swimming spots along the Adriatic coast.

You can swim and snorkel near the rocks, lie on the sand, or walk to the shore for a drink at the beach club. The stop is flexible enough for both active and lazy moods. If you have spent the morning in the water, this is an easy place to slow down.

The beach can be appealing because it gives you a proper shore break rather than another swim straight from the boat. At the same time, an hour goes quickly. You should not expect a long beach day here, especially if the route is also making room for Koločep, Lopud, and possibly Šipan.

If you prefer swimming from the boat, you may find the beach stop less essential. If sand matters to you, it is one of the more useful parts of the route. This is a good example of why the day suits people who like variety rather than one long stay in a single cove.

Lopud: lunch, village streets, and time to linger

Lopud receives about two hours and is the most substantial island stop. Lunch is planned at a seaside restaurant about 20 meters from the beach. The skipper may reserve a table by the water, which makes this more than a quick meal squeezed between swim stops.

Food is not included in the tour price. You should plan to pay for lunch yourself, and it is sensible to bring enough money for food and drinks. There is no meal service on the boat, although coffee, tea, water, and a welcome drink are included.

After lunch, you can swim in the clear water beside the beach or walk through the village. A 14th-century monastery is listed as another option. The tour information does not promise a guided visit, so think of this as free time to explore rather than a formal historical tour.

Lopud is likely to be the day’s best balance of activity and local life. You are not only looking at the island from offshore. You can eat there, walk a little, and then return to the water. I especially like this stop for people who want a taste of the islands but do not want a full day devoted to one village.

The tradeoff is simple: lunch and a village walk take time away from sailing and swimming. If your priority is being in the water every minute, you may wish to keep your meal brief. If you want a relaxed middle section, Lopud provides it.

Šipan: the optional final island

Šipan is the last possible island stop, with about an hour planned if time allows. It is explicitly optional, so do not book this trip expecting a guaranteed visit.

If lunch has already taken place on Lopud, the remaining time on Šipan can be used for a walk through the small village, another swim, or a cold drink at one of the restaurants. This gives the day a pleasant final pause, but the schedule may not leave room for it.

That flexibility is useful, but it also means the advertised list of islands is not a strict checklist. Sailing time, the pace of lunch, weather, and the group’s preferences all affect the final route. If seeing Šipan is your top goal, confirm how likely it is when you meet the skipper.

Sailing time is part of the experience

The remaining time is spent cruising among the Elaphiti Islands, with possible pauses in passing bays for swimming. Do not think of the travel between stops as wasted time. This is when you get broad views of the islands, enjoy the breeze, and settle into the rhythm of a small boat.

Free sailing lessons are included. The skipper may explain the lines and let you steer, depending on conditions and the group’s interest. That makes the outing more interactive than a standard sightseeing cruise, but you should still expect the skipper to remain responsible for operating the boat.

The boat has a sunshade, an important detail during a long summer day. You can move between sun and shade, though it is still wise to bring sunscreen, a hat, and a towel. The experience details do not specify towel provision, so bring your own.

Basic drinks are available, including water, coffee, tea, and a welcome drink. You may bring anything else you want, including snacks or specific drinks. This matters because the boat is not a floating café, and the lunch stop is the main opportunity for a full meal.

What the $170.43 price really covers

The price makes the most sense if you value time on the water and a small group. You are paying for roughly eight hours, several island stops, equipment, sailing instruction, and the chance to shape the day with the skipper.

It is less good value if you mainly want transportation to Lopud or Šunj Beach. In that case, a simpler boat transfer may cost less, though it would not provide the same mix of swimming stops, SUP use, basic onboard drinks, and sailing time.

Lunch is extra, and pickup and drop-off are optional rather than included. You need to reach Lapadska obala 4 yourself unless you arrange the added transport. The meeting point is near public transportation, which helps, but the tour does not provide a hotel transfer as part of the standard package.

The strongest value is the group limit. With no more than eight people, you have a better chance of getting a comfortable place on the boat, talking with the skipper, and agreeing on how much time to spend swimming or walking. A private charter would give you more control, but this small-group format offers some of that feeling at a lower price.

Who will enjoy this most

I would choose this for you if you want a full day outside Dubrovnik and enjoy being in the water. It works particularly well for couples, friends, and solo visitors who like meeting a few people but do not want a large cruise.

It also suits mixed groups. One person can snorkel, another can use the SUP, and someone else can sit under the sunshade or walk around Lopud. The range of stops means you do not need to be highly active all day.

You should think twice if you dislike open-water travel, need a guaranteed Blue Cave visit, or want every meal and drink included. The plan is flexible, and that is part of its appeal, but flexibility also means Šipan may be skipped and the Blue Cave may not happen.

The tour is not described as wheelchair accessible, and the day includes boarding a boat, swimming, and moving between a boat, beach, and island village. Most people can participate, but you should ask the operator directly about your own mobility needs before booking.

Practical details for a smoother day

Bring swimwear, sunscreen, a hat, a towel, and money for lunch and drinks on Lopud. Add your own snacks if you prefer to eat lightly or want something between stops.

Arrive at the meeting point before the 9:30 a.m. start. The tour returns to that same point after about eight hours, so plan on an afternoon return around the listed duration, with the exact timing shaped by the route.

The activity is offered in English and uses a mobile ticket. Confirmation is provided at booking. Free cancellation is available until 24 hours before the start time. Within 24 hours, changes and refunds are not accepted. If poor weather forces cancellation, you can receive a full refund or move to another date.

The tour has a 4.8 rating from 23 ratings, with 96 percent recommending it. The most consistent praise centers on the boat, the relaxed skippers, the swimming time, and the lunch stop on Lopud. One useful caution also comes through clearly: bring what you want to drink or snack on, since the onboard supply is limited to simple refreshments.

Should you book this Elaphiti sailing tour?

Book it if you want a small-group day built around swimming and sailing, with enough island time to have lunch and take a short walk. The combination of Koločep, Šunj Beach, Lopud, and possible Šipan gives you more variety than a simple beach transfer.

I would not book it solely for the Blue Cave or Šipan, since both are conditional. Book it for the overall day: calm bays, clear water, a sandy beach, lunch beside the sea, and a skipper who may let you take the wheel.

At $170.43, the tour earns its price through time, equipment, and the eight-person limit. Bring your own snacks, budget separately for lunch, and accept that weather and group preferences can alter the route. If those terms suit you, this is a practical way to trade Dubrovnik’s stone streets for a full day among the islands.

FAQ

Where does the Dubrovnik sailing tour start?

The tour starts at Lapadska obala 4, 20000 Dubrovnik, Croatia. It ends back at the same meeting point.

What time does the tour begin?

The scheduled start time is 9:30 a.m. The experience lasts approximately eight hours.

How many people can join the boat?

The maximum group size is eight people.

Is lunch included?

No. Lunch is planned at a restaurant on Lopud, but food is not included in the tour price. You should bring money for the meal.

Are drinks provided onboard?

Basic refreshments are included, including a welcome drink, coffee, tea, and water. You may bring other drinks and snacks with you.

Is the Blue Cave visit guaranteed?

No. Visiting the Blue Cave depends on the group’s wishes and the conditions on the day.

What happens if the weather is poor?

The experience requires good weather. If it is canceled because of poor conditions, you can receive a full refund or choose another date.